AI Damage2000 BMW M Roadster: common problems
Owners of the 2000 BMW M Roadster filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 19
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 79% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 16% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 5% of all complaints
- Structure: 15 complaints (79% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (16% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 1 complaints (5% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (5% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 19 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The consumer has experienced the following problems: fire resulting in a total loss, due to design flaw/ or misrouting of wires due to service dealer (bmw)-while driving, abnormal tire wear (tires completely bald on inside @ 150k miles) due to alignment, right rear trailing arm bent, numerous electrical…
Sub frame has cracked under normal driving.during regular commutes and drives on residental roads I began to hear noises from the rear of the car and I took a look underneath car, there was a small crack in the differential mounting ear.
Differential mount failure. Subframe separates from trunk floor. Common in the z3m roadsters. Subframe is just spot welded to the trunk floor and needs to be re-enforced. The re-enforcement kits are sold by further confirming that this is a manufacturing problem.
In april I noticed that the spot welds in the trunk area had started to pull apart and rusted. I search the web and found that this is very common with these cars. Bmw is aware of this issue, however, they refuse to address it.
Differential mount on '00 bmw m roadster cracked at approximately. 31000 miles.
Information on the z-3 roadster internet message board (http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/z3/) indicates that this problem is a common fault on the bmw z-3/m roadster models, due to faulty electrical connectors under the seat or faulty sensors in the seat belt latches.
There is a vibration in the steering wheel and also makes a noise when making turns.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 8,439 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).
On average one model year of the M Roadster has 11 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 19, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 BMW M Roadster?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, powertrain, suspension. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (5%), door locks, latches, handles (5%), rust, corrosion (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 BMW M Roadster?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2000 BMW M Roadster from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2000 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.